IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/soinre/v177y2025i1d10.1007_s11205-024-03485-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Fake News Phenomenon in the Scientific Debate: Evidence from a Bibliometric Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Giuseppe Giordano

    (University of Salerno)

  • Maria Carmela Catone

    (University of Salerno)

  • Ilaria Primerano

    (National Research Council)

Abstract

Navigating the vast sea of information in the digital age poses significant challenges, especially when it comes to discerning fake news from authentic information. This intricate task becomes even more challenging when the fake news is artfully presented as truth. Fake news often disguises itself as credible content and, by rapidly proliferating on digital platforms, contributes to increasing information disorder. This paper aims to investigate how the fake news phenomenon and its related issues have been addressed in the scientific literature. To achieve this objective, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 3098 scientific publications extracted from the Web of Science from 2005 to 2022. This approach allowed us to identify the conceptual structure of fake news, including the different themes, and understand how they are interconnected in the field of fake news study. Additionally, we examined the intellectual structure based on the co-citations of key journals addressing this topic. The results of this research revealed an increase in the volume of fake news publications, coinciding with a rise in citations among the authors of the selected articles. Furthermore, we found that the conceptual structure of fake news is characterised by an interdisciplinary nature, which revolves mainly around sociopolitical dynamics and public health, with the latter particularly influenced by the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the intellectual structure uncovered by the journals’ co-citation network highlights the presence of two main subfields: communication and political debate and the behavioural domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppe Giordano & Maria Carmela Catone & Ilaria Primerano, 2025. "The Fake News Phenomenon in the Scientific Debate: Evidence from a Bibliometric Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 177(1), pages 31-52, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:177:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-024-03485-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-024-03485-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11205-024-03485-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11205-024-03485-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aria, Massimo & Cuccurullo, Corrado, 2017. "bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 959-975.
    2. Arzu Tugce Guler & Cathelijn J. F. Waaijer & Magnus Palmblad, 2016. "Scientific workflows for bibliometrics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 107(2), pages 385-398, May.
    3. Cobo, M.J. & López-Herrera, A.G. & Herrera-Viedma, E. & Herrera, F., 2011. "An approach for detecting, quantifying, and visualizing the evolution of a research field: A practical application to the Fuzzy Sets Theory field," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 146-166.
    4. Bryan Fong, 2021. "Analysing the behavioural finance impact of 'fake news' phenomena on financial markets: a representative agent model and empirical validation," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 7(1), pages 1-30, December.
    5. Wang, Yuxi & McKee, Martin & Torbica, Aleksandra & Stuckler, David, 2019. "Systematic Literature Review on the Spread of Health-related Misinformation on Social Media," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    6. Martin Rosvall & Carl T Bergstrom, 2010. "Mapping Change in Large Networks," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(1), pages 1-7, January.
    7. Mingers, John & Leydesdorff, Loet, 2015. "A review of theory and practice in scientometrics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 246(1), pages 1-19.
    8. Guler, Arzu Tugce & Waaijer, Cathelijn J.F. & Mohammed, Yassene & Palmblad, Magnus, 2016. "Automating bibliometric analyses using Taverna scientific workflows: A tutorial on integrating Web Services," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 830-841.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zoltán Lakner & Brigitta Plasek & Gyula Kasza & Anna Kiss & Sándor Soós & Ágoston Temesi, 2021. "Towards Understanding the Food Consumer Behavior–Food Safety–Sustainability Triangle: A Bibliometric Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-23, November.
    2. Batista-Canino, Rosa M. & Santana-Hernández, Lidia & Medina-Brito, Pino, 2024. "A holistic literature review on entrepreneurial Intention: A scientometric approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    3. Sandip Solanki & Seema Singh & Meeta Joshi, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of the International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy: 2013-2022," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(5), pages 260-270, September.
    4. Yao, Ye & Du, Huibin & Zou, Hongyang & Zhou, Peng & Antunes, Carlos Henggeler & Neumann, Anne & Yeh, Sonia, 2023. "Fifty years of Energy Policy: A bibliometric overview," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. Johanna Andrea Navarro-Espinosa & Manuel Vaquero-Abellán & Alberto-Jesús Perea-Moreno & Gerardo Pedrós-Pérez & Maria del Pilar Martínez-Jiménez & Pilar Aparicio-Martínez, 2022. "Gamification as a Promoting Tool of Motivation for Creating Sustainable Higher Education Institutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-20, February.
    6. Qian Wang & Shixian Luo & Jiao Zhang & Katsunori Furuya, 2022. "Increased Attention to Smart Development in Rural Areas: A Scientometric Analysis of Smart Village Research," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-28, August.
    7. Juan Ruiz-Rosero & Gustavo Ramirez-Gonzalez & Jesus Viveros-Delgado, 2019. "Software survey: ScientoPy, a scientometric tool for topics trend analysis in scientific publications," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(2), pages 1165-1188, November.
    8. Khare, Apoorv & Jain, Rajesh, 2022. "Mapping the conceptual and intellectual structure of the consumer vulnerability field: A bibliometric analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 567-584.
    9. Zeng, Ying & Liu, Xinyi & Zhang, Xinyuan & Li, Zhiyong, 2024. "Retrospective of interdisciplinary research on robot services (1954–2023): From parasitism to symbiosis," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    10. Deming Lin & Tianhui Gong & Wenbin Liu & Martin Meyer, 2020. "An entropy-based measure for the evolution of h index research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(3), pages 2283-2298, December.
    11. Shuangqing Sheng & Wei Song & Hua Lian & Lei Ning, 2022. "Review of Urban Land Management Based on Bibliometrics," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-25, November.
    12. Francisco García-Lillo & Eduardo Sánchez-García & Bartolomé Marco-Lajara & Pedro Seva-Larrosa, 2023. "Renewable Energies and Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Overview," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-22, January.
    13. Albiona Pestisha & Zoltán Gabnai & Aidana Chalgynbayeva & Péter Lengyel & Attila Bai, 2023. "On-Farm Renewable Energy Systems: A Systematic Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-25, January.
    14. Zamani, Mehdi & Yalcin, Haydar & Naeini, Ali Bonyadi & Zeba, Gordana & Daim, Tugrul U, 2022. "Developing metrics for emerging technologies: identification and assessment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    15. Paul Handro & Bogdan Dima, 2024. "Analyzing Financial Markets Efficiency: Insights from a Bibliometric and Content Review," Journal of Financial Studies, Institute of Financial Studies, vol. 16(9), pages 119-175, May.
    16. Saymon Ricardo Oliveira Sousa & Wesley Vieira Silva & Claudimar Pereira Veiga & Roselaine Ruviaro Zanini, 2020. "Theoretical background of innovation in services in small and medium-sized enterprises: literature mapping," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-26, December.
    17. Rodrigo Barbosa & Mayara Barbosa & Amalia Raquel Pérez-Nebra & Esther Villajos & Fernando González-Ladrón-de-Guevara, 2025. "A half-century perspective of entrepreneur’s well-being: comparing academic and global entrepreneurship monitor trends," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    18. Pan Zhang & Yongjun Du & Sijie Han & Qingan Qiu, 2022. "Global Progress in Oil and Gas Well Research Using Bibliometric Analysis Based on VOSviewer and CiteSpace," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-27, July.
    19. Omolola M. Adisa & Muthoni Masinde & Joel O. Botai & Christina M. Botai, 2020. "Bibliometric Analysis of Methods and Tools for Drought Monitoring and Prediction in Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-22, August.
    20. Caputo, Andrea & Pizzi, Simone & Pellegrini, Massimiliano M. & Dabić, Marina, 2021. "Digitalization and business models: Where are we going? A science map of the field," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 489-501.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:177:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-024-03485-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.